Disney Dining Experience

[mickeymouse1017]

I have annual passes so I will not be needing a package. However, I was interested in the DDP and came across something called the Disney Dining Experience which is available only to Annual Passholders or Florida residents. Has anyone gotten one of these? They seem as if they would be a good investment since almost all of the restaurants that we plan to eat at are listed for use. Thanks!

 

[JESW]

Yes, we are also AP holders and we have the DDE card. Works great for us and I highly recommend it if you eat at a lot of the places that take it.

Jill

 

[Momelie]

I highly recommend it - it took less than a weekend for our family of 4 to break even and get into the true discount, and we've used it considerably since then.

 

[Mackey Mouse]

We have used the DDE since it was offered to annual passholders, I truly think it is the way to go for us. Saving 20% on food and alcohol is pretty much unheard of and it will pay for itself......I also like that you can do out a group of people and use it and if you are out with a group and one person has the card, he can use it for the table.....just an fyi.

 

[LadyRob]

Get it! It is well worth it. Just like Momelie, my family of 4 easily broke even in a weekend.

 

[MikMin6554]

My family and I used on our last trip. It was great! I had done the DDP before and it is way too much food. With the DDE if you dont want an appetizer or dessert you dont have too. I felt like you I had to get it since it is included with the DDP.

 

[Lisa Hale]

Just saw your reply and noticed your wedding picture - what an absolutely beautiful bride and groom! Congrats & Best Wishes!

 

[mickeymouse1017]

Thanks for the answers. We called yesterday about getting our card. They told us that since we were not arriving until June, to wait until the first week of May to order it since they are good for one year from the time that you order. FYI for anyone like me that didn't know anything about the DDE, if you order one and it doesn't arrive in time for your trip, you can go to Epcot to get a form saying that you do have the DDE but have not received your card yet. You can take advantage of the 20% off with the form. Thanks again!

 

[GeorgiaAristocat]

Okay, this seems like a silly question, but does anyone know if they will let you order the card if you only have a voucher for your AP, or does the AP need to be activated to order the DDE card?

(yes, getting APs for the next trip, won't activate 'til we get there, but I know I'm going to want the DDE card.)

Sorry, this has probably been answered a few hundred times before.

 

[MikMin6554]

Yes you may order it with only the AP voucher.
That is what we used to order ours.

 

[dbarker]

Yes you can order it w/ just the voucher. That is what I did. They ask for info that is on the voucher to verify it.

I got a little confused w/ all the info, so I faxed a copy of front and back of my voucher in w/ my form. I had no problems.

 

[siouxi31]

In the past, both my husband and I received a card without having an additional charge (for the 2nd card). Now, they charge 25.00 for a 2nd card.

The only time the 2nd card came in handy was when my husband would go to get a beer either inside the Rose & Crown or YC Pub. I'll just have to accompany him now which isn't a big deal. I'm the only one with an AP so I got the card.

But, it is a good point to bring up that even if you just want a cocktail, there are various places you can use the card just for that purpose. For example, the outdoor bar at Rose & Crown doesn't take the card but inside the bar they do. This does help add to the savings since those drinks are expensive.

 

[Bernardo]

We like the DDE better than DDP for our family. The 20% discount pays for itself quickly - especially if you enjoy a glass or wine/beer with your meals since the discount applies on alcohol too.

Since we rarely order dessert, the DDP just invites us to eat more than we need and the DDE allows us to get what we usually would order without the temptation of the dessert.

 

[seetheworld]

We love our DDE card and it saves us a lot of money - especially with a family of 6!

 

[MikMin6554]

We like the DDE better than DDP for our family. The 20% discount pays for itself quickly - especially if you enjoy a glass or wine/beer with your meals since the discount applies on alcohol too.

Since we rarely order dessert, the DDP just invites us to eat more than we need and the DDE allows us to get what we usually would order without the temptation of the dessert.

Thats exactly how my family feels.
It almost forces you to eat too much since it is included and paid for.

 

[CJK]

Sorry for yet another question. I hope someone can help me.

We're going down to Disney in september for free dining. We have booked the package with a 1 day base ticket per person. Once we arrive, we want to upgrade the base ticket to annual passes. We also want the DDE card (to be used on the September trip for a couple meals and alcohol, a well as on our December trip where we will NOT be using the dining plan.

I understand that you need to have an AP or at least the AP voucher to order the DDE. Due to our circumstance, we will not be able to buy AP's prior to our trip since we have to do it when we get down to Florida. What should we do? Are we out of luck for having the DDE card for our September trip, and will only be able to order it after our September trip so as to use it on our December trip only?

I hope this makes sense!!

 

[nbodyhome]

I have had the DDE card for like 10 years now. I love it!

 

[GeorgiaAristocat]

Thanks for the voucher answer!

 

[Claire&TheBoys]

Sorry for yet another question. I hope someone can help me.

We're going down to Disney in september for free dining. We have booked the package with a 1 day base ticket per person. Once we arrive, we want to upgrade the base ticket to annual passes. We also want the DDE card (to be used on the September trip for a couple meals and alcohol, a well as on our December trip where we will NOT be using the dining plan.

I understand that you need to have an AP or at least the AP voucher to order the DDE. Due to our circumstance, we will not be able to buy AP's prior to our trip since we have to do it when we get down to Florida. What should we do? Are we out of luck for having the DDE card for our September trip, and will only be able to order it after our September trip so as to use it on our December trip only?

I hope this makes sense!!

I think you can call DDE when you get there and get your AP number, and pick up a temporary card at Epcot Guest Services.

Question for others to help me with:
I'll be getting the FL seasonal pass in Sept and the DDE card would cost $65. We don't eat a lot of TS meals, but we do have reservations for the Play-N-Dine, Chef Mickey's, and Le Cellier. Two adults, one child, one infant. We don't drink alcohol so I don't think we'd even make back our original money on it.
Play-N-Dine, 2 adults @ $23, 1 child @ 13, total: $59 -- save $12
Chef Mickey, 2 adults @ $28, 1 child @ 13, total: $69 -- save $14
Le Cellier, avg, 2 adults @ $35, 1 child @ 10, total $80 -- save $16

Even if we eat at one more TS restaurant, it seems doubtful we'd make our money back. So many of the comments were that they made back the cost of their DDE card in a weekend - am I figuring something wrong or not accounting for something? TIA!

 

[GeorgiaAristocat]

Claire ~
I think it depends on how often you would go and where you eat. i.e. if you are two adults and two adult eating children and you want to eat at Cali Grill and Artist Point, that would make it up right there.

Remember the card is good for a year, so if you are getting FLA resident passes - will you be going again over the course of the year? That should impact your decision. Your analysis only shows one trip . . . (If you are only going for one trip w/in the year, check the value on your passes, you may come out better on straight MYW tickets.)